What is laser photocoagulation?
Laser photocoagulation is a technique used by ophthalmic surgeons to treat a number of conditions, including leakage from submacular neovascularizations. At present, it is the only treatment which has been proven effective for any form of macular degeneration. The laser beam essentially “cooks” the tissue which is exposed to it. The beam has a very small cross section, which is aimed at a leakage point revealed by angiography. With luck, the cooking, or coagulation, of the cells at the leakage point will stop or slow leakage, hence the progress of macular degeneration caused by the leakage. Only about half of patients with wet ARMD are candidates for laser photocoagulation, because those with occult or subfoveal leakage are not candidates. Also, laser photocoagulation is only effective about half the time it is done as a treatment for wet macular degeneration. When effective, the benefit lasts on the average about one year.
Laser photocoagulation is a treatment that uses a laser (high-energy light source) to repair damaged capillaries. A laser beam is focused on the retina. The heat from the laser beam seals weak capillaries. New capillary growth is also slowed or stopped with the procedure. Laser photocoagulation is done using one or more of the types of laser treatments listed below.
